The government of Oyo State has commenced the evacuation of beggars from the shanties on Jemibewon Road, Sabo area of Ibadan, the state capital, to a newly built Akinyele Resettlement Centre.
The evacuation process, which started months ago, formally commenced at 7 a.m., on Tuesday, following a tour of the new site by Arewa community leaders and representatives of the beggars on Saturday.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Idowu Oyeleke, who led the first set of evacuees to Akinyele, said that the new site is fitted with social amenities including schools, hospitals, and recreation centres.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, named other ministries involved in the exercise to include Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Information, Culture and Tourism, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, as well as the Office of the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, headed by CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), who is equally the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the governor.
As at 8 a.m., on Tuesday, three fully loaded Pacessetter luxury buses had left Jemibewon road for Akinyele, while others were being loaded.
Emmanuel Ukoh
